St. Feuillien Cuvée De Noël - Brasserie St. Feuillien

ToolHead

Denmark

4.33/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

75 cl bottle, served in Westmalle chalice.
Deep brownish red; moderate head. There's a nice, warm fullness to the taste. Delicious malt character, and an impressively long, distinctive finish. Very good drinkability - it's so easy to forget the 9% abv...
One of the better Christmas brews I've tasted, although it's not in the same league as Gouden Carolus Christmas or Affligem Nöel. A very nice beer, though, and very popular in Denmark - easily the most available imported Christmas brew this year, and winner of several Christmas beer tastings.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2004 15:33:31 | More by ToolHead

SStein

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -0.5%

05-08-2013 10:47:27 | More by SStein

Jamison85

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%

04-06-2013 02:28:19 | More by Jamison85

captainbearcat

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +11.9%

04-05-2013 17:32:29 | More by captainbearcat

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -19.2%

02-26-2013 12:36:34 | More by xnicknj

Beerstorian

District of Columbia

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%

02-24-2013 23:36:02 | More by Beerstorian

markmcconv

Illinois

4/5  rDev -0.5%

02-13-2013 19:14:24 | More by markmcconv

Haybeerman

Colorado

4/5  rDev -0.5%

02-07-2013 22:01:12 | More by Haybeerman

Satyr179

Sweden

3.75/5  rDev -6.7%

02-03-2013 17:11:57 | More by Satyr179

Chrily

Norway

4/5  rDev -0.5%

01-14-2013 11:37:25 | More by Chrily

FLBeerGuy

Florida

4/5  rDev -0.5%

01-14-2013 00:10:46 | More by FLBeerGuy

iKrystin

3.75/5  rDev -6.7%

01-12-2013 23:23:29 | More by iKrystin

Flounder57

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a 750 ml bottle into a chalice. Finishing 2012 and starting 2013 off with a good beer.

Appearance: This beer poured a one finger head that reduced to a thin layer. It is a murky crimson brown with some clarity and bubbles coming up through the glass.

Smell: super maltiness and dark fruit goodness. I do pick up some of that orange mamalade a lot of people are talking about, pepper, bready malts, a little chocolate, dark fruits, and lots of goodness.

Taste: Caramel, chocolate, and bready malts. Spicy pepper, raisins, oranges, some bitternes, and a lot of the mentioned flavors above too.

Mouthfeel: Silky smooth, medium to high carbonation, medium to full bodied, and some boozy alcohol.

Overall: Pretty solid BSDA that was quite the treat. Happy to have scored this a year ago. It is good to know that it stood the test of time. Best before was 9/30/13. Might have to see if the store has any more bottles kicking around.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 07:46:53 | More by Flounder57

cliff1066

Virginia

4/5  rDev -0.5%

12-27-2012 20:10:23 | More by cliff1066

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

4.1/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 22oz caged bottle into pint. Pours a nice ruby hue brown with off white head. Really nice sweet dried fruity aromas...some cognac/sweet liquor notes. Great dried fruit and fruitcake belgian flavor, some banana and chocolate. Smooth but sharp flavor...well balanced and great spice chatacter but not overly done. Really nice brew.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 03:23:22 | More by DrinkSlurm

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Anyone dreaming of a muddied marmalade Christmas? If so, St. Feuillien Cuvée De Noël is a wish come true. In fact, the beer also doubles as a snow globe; thick clumps of sediment speck the glass. (I could have opted to exclude them but that would have entailed leaving nearly half the liquid behind.) Funny enough, however, there's little (if any) snow flakes atop.

Initially an acquired taste, I now have the greatest admiration for Belgian yeast strains. Where else do you find spicy and savory all rolled into one composite package? The nose sings a lovely holiday carol of candied orange rind, bread, nutmeg, black licorice, caramel apple, and savory herbs. Despite the beer's strength, the blend of citrus and spice is nice and mellow.

Cuvée De Noël features hints of plum, butterscotch, mulled apple cider, and has a spicy fruitcake, Cognac-like finish. As mentioned, the yeast is the kind to grip early and lock the palate down throughout. There is an almost tannin-like, black licorice bitterness. All considered, it is a fairly delicate beer (even despite the spicy flavours and 9% alcohol).

The fact that this is just past the 'consume before' date on the bottle explains a lot: the slightly tarnished complexion, the slightly dulled aromatics, and the more syrupy, liqueur-like mouthfeel. It has obviously passed its recommended window. Nevertheless, it makes a splendid, flattering Christmas ale, one which really defines the general style for these kinds of seasonal beers.

St. Feuillien Cuvée De Noël is not far off the quality or brilliancy of Belgium's best Christmas ales, though it is not my personal favourite. It's definitely something I'd buy again, mind you, and it does provide all the fruity, spicy, savory (Christmas cake and Cognac) elements one could ask for in a holiday tipple. It is an offering of which I can say only good things, though 'great' compliments are bit harder to muster.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 20:50:27 | More by biegaman

astidad

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -0.5%

12-20-2012 03:08:57 | More by astidad

rolltide8425

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -0.5%

12-13-2012 15:48:54 | More by rolltide8425

jrfehon33

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -19.2%

12-13-2012 00:02:20 | More by jrfehon33

mactrail

California

3.68/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a dark brownish amber in the Leffe chalice. An attractive foam Interesting rusty, malty smell. Pleasant sudsy mouthfeel.

A candy flavor, though not all that sweet. Lots of warm malt, slightly roasted. A different sort of flavor, though in the Belgian strong fruity tradition. I keep tasting carrots and yams. Though there is no hint of hoppy aromas, it has some bitterness. Less of the typical Belgian dry yeasty taste. A pineapple flavor, but tart. Some other mystery fruit and a hint of pecans and butter.

More pleasant and complex as it warms. From the 33 cl stubby bottle brought back from Belgium in October.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 07:18:51 | More by mactrail

Tinfang

California

4.5/5  rDev +11.9%

11-16-2012 04:00:37 | More by Tinfang

Rick760Sd

California

4.5/5  rDev +11.9%

10-26-2012 04:27:20 | More by Rick760Sd

HiPpYcHoP

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%

10-22-2012 11:09:39 | More by HiPpYcHoP

strongaf

Washington

4/5  rDev -0.5%

09-20-2012 06:15:05 | More by strongaf

BoRaeCho

California

4/5  rDev -0.5%

09-19-2012 16:37:25 | More by BoRaeCho